Touch sensitive display device and method thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a touch sensitive display device, the display device including a display panel unit, a sensing unit formed on the display panel unit, receiving a sensor control signal, and generating a sensor data signal based on a touch exerted on the display panel unit, an output unit generating a sensing signal based on the sensor data signal from the sensing unit, and a compensation unit adjusting the sensor control signal such that the sensing signal is bounded in a predetermined range.

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.10-2005-0101293, filed on Oct. 26, 2005 and all the benefits accruingtherefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, and the contents of which in itsentirety are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display device and a method thereof.More particularly, the present invention relates to a touch sensitivedisplay device and a method of improving touch determination.

(b) Description of the Related Art

A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) includes a pair of panels provided withpixel electrodes and a common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer withdielectric anisotropy interposed between the panels. The pixelelectrodes are arranged in a matrix and connected to switching elementssuch as thin film transistors (“TFTs”) such that they receive displaydata voltages row by row. The common electrode covers the entire surfaceof one of the two panels and it is supplied with a common voltage.

A pixel electrode, corresponding portions of the common electrode, andcorresponding portions of the liquid crystal layer form a liquid crystalcapacitor that is a basic element of a pixel along with a switchingelement connected to the liquid crystal capacitor.

The LCD generates electric fields by applying voltages to the pixelelectrodes and the common electrode, and varies the strength of theelectric fields to adjust the transmittance of light passing through theliquid crystal layer to display images.

A touch screen panel is an apparatus in which a finger or a styluscontacts to write characters, to draw pictures, or to click icons toinstruct a device such as a computer to execute instructions. A displaydevice such as an LCD that includes a touch screen panel attachedthereon has its own mechanism to determine whether and where a touchoccurs. However, an LCD provided with a touch screen panel has a highmanufacturing cost due to the cost of the touch screen panel, lowproductivity due to a process step for attaching the touch screen panelto the LCD, a reduction of luminance of the LCD, an increase of thethickness of the LCD, etc.

Sensors including TFTs or variable capacitors have been incorporatedinto display areas for displaying images in an LCD instead of employinga touch screen panel. Such sensors sense a variation of light incidenton a panel or of pressure exerted on a panel to inform the LCD whetherand where a touch of a user's finger, etc., occurs.

Sensing signals generated based on output signals of the sensors may bevaried depending on peripheral conditions such as temperature, thedegradation of the sensors, etc. In addition, the sensors may havedeviations for every LCD, so the levels of the sensing signals may notbe uniform. Accordingly, it may be difficult to exactly determinewhether and where a touch occurs based on such sensing signals.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A display device according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention includes a display panel unit, a sensing unit formed on thedisplay panel unit, receiving a sensor control signal, and generating asensor data signal based on a touch exerted on the display panel unit,an output unit generating a sensing signal based on the sensor datasignal from the sensing unit, and a compensation unit adjusting thesensor control signal such that the sensing signal is bounded in apredetermined range.

The display device may further include a detecting unit generating afeedback signal based on the sensing signal and supplying the feedbacksignal to the compensation unit. The compensation unit may adjust thesensor control signal based on an operating signal, and the operatingsignal may be difference between a target value and the feedback signal.The compensation unit may adjust the sensor control signal such that thesensing signal is substantially equal to the target value.

The sensor control signal (Vc) may be given by${{Vc} = {{Vc}^{\prime} + {{Kp} \times {{ev}(t)}} + {{Ki} \times {\int_{0}^{t}{{{ev}(\tau)}\quad{\mathbb{d}\tau}}}} + {{Kd} \times \frac{\mathbb{d}{{ev}(\tau)}}{\mathbb{d}(\tau)}}}},$

where Vc′ denotes a previous value of the control signal, Kp denotes aproportional gain, Ki denotes an integral gain, Kd denotes a derivativegain, and ev denotes the operating signal. The compensation unit maycontrol the sensing signal when the sensing signal is outside of thepredetermined range. The compensation unit may not adjust the sensorcontrol signal when the target value is equal to the feedback signal.

The compensation unit may perform one of proportional control,proportional-integral control, and proportional-integral-derivativecontrol. The compensation unit may be implemented as an analog circuitor a digital circuit.

The sensing unit may include a variable capacitor Cv and a referencecapacitor Cp connected to the variable capacitor Cv, and a capacitanceof the variable capacitor Cv may have a capacitance depending on apressure following a touch. The display device may further include asensor data line for transmitting the sensor data signal and connectedbetween the variable capacitor Cv and the reference capacitor Cp. Thedisplay device may further include a reset transistor connected to thesensor data line and supplying the sensor control signal to the sensordata line. The output unit may include an output transistor connected tothe sensor data line and generating an output signal based on the sensordata signal. The output unit may further include an amplifier forgenerating the sensing signal based on the output signal of the outputtransistor. The plurality of display panels may include a first panel, asecond panel facing the first panel, and an LC layer interposed betweenthe first panel and the second panel. The variable capacitor may includea first electrode disposed on the first panel and a second capacitiveelectrode formed on the second panel.

The sensing unit may alternatively include a photo-sensing elementsensing light following a touch to generate a photocurrent. Thephoto-sensitive element may have an input terminal connected to an inputline, a control terminal connected to the sensor control signal, and anoutput terminal, and the photo-sensing unit may output the photocurrentthrough the output terminal.

The display device may further include a sensor data line fortransmitting the sensor data signal and a switching element for sendingthe photocurrent from the photo-sensitive element to the sensor dataline as the sensor data signal.

A method of improving a touch sensing operation in a touch sensitivedisplay device according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention includes applying a sensor control signal to a sensor dataline, generating a sensor data signal from a sensing unit connected tothe sensor data line based on a touch exerted on the display device,generating a sensing signal based on the sensor data signal, andbounding the sensing signal within a preset range by adjusting thesensor control signal applied to the sensor data line.

Adjusting the sensor control signal may include calculating the sensorcontrol signal based on a previous value of the sensor control signaland an operating signal, the operating signal being a difference betweena feedback signal based on the sensing signal and a target value of thesensing signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more apparent by further describingexemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary liquid crystal display device(“LCD”) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of an exemplary pixel of anexemplary LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are equivalent circuit diagrams of exemplary sensingunits of exemplary LCDs according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary LCD according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention from the standpoint of anexemplary sensing unit of the exemplary LCD;

FIG. 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram of an exemplary sensing unit ofan exemplary LCD according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6A is an equivalent circuit diagram of a plurality of exemplarysensing units connected to an exemplary sensing data line of anexemplary LCD according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 6B is an equivalent circuit diagram brieflyrepresenting the exemplary sensing unit;

FIG. 7 is a timing diagram for a sensing operation of an exemplary LCDaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an exemplary feedback control system forthe exemplary LCD shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating experiment results for the exemplaryfeedback control of the exemplary LCD shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodimentsof the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theexemplary embodiments set forth herein. In the drawings, the thicknessof layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity.Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout thespecification. It will be understood that when an element such as alayer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” anotherelement, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elementsmay also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to asbeing “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elementspresent. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third,etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components,regions, layers, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions,layers, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. Theseterms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region,layer, or section from another element, component, region, layer, orsection. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or sectiondiscussed below could be termed a second element, component, region,layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the presentinvention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising” or “includes” and/or “including” when used in thisspecification specify the presence of stated features, regions,integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”,“upper”, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both anorientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein may be interpreted accordingly.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and thepresent disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized oroverly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein.

Embodiments of the present invention are described herein with referenceto cross-section illustrations that are schematic illustrations ofidealized embodiments of the present invention. As such, variations fromthe shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, ofmanufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus,embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limitedto the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are toinclude deviations in shapes that result, for example, frommanufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as flatmay, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharpangles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regionsillustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes arenot intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are notintended to limit the scope of the present invention.

A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) as an example of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention now willbe described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3B.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary LCD according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuitdiagram of an exemplary pixel of an exemplary LCD according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3A and FIG. 3Bare equivalent circuit diagrams of exemplary sensing units of exemplaryLCDs according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an LCD includes a liquid crystal (“LC”) panelassembly 300, a display or image scanning driver 400, a display or imagedata driver 500, a sensor scanning driver 700, a sensing signalprocessor 800, a compensation unit or compensator 950, a gray voltagegenerator 550, a touch determination unit or contact determinationmember 900, and a signal controller 600.

Referring to FIG. 1, the LC panel assembly 300 includes a plurality ofpixels PX arranged substantially in a matrix and a plurality of sensingunits SU arranged substantially in a matrix. Referring to FIG. 2, FIG.3A and FIG. 3B, the LC panel assembly 300 further includes a pluralityof display signal lines G_(i) and D_(j) (where i and j are naturalnumbers) connected to the pixels PX and a plurality of sensing signallines S_(α), P_(β), Psg, and Psd (where α and β are natural numbers)connected to the sensing units SU.

In the equivalent circuit diagram shown in FIG. 2, the LC panel assembly300 includes a thin film transistor (“TFT”) array panel or lower panel100, a common electrode panel or upper panel 200 facing the TFT arraypanel 100, a liquid crystal layer 3 interposed between the panels 100and 200, and a plurality of elastic spacers (not shown) for maintaininga gap between the two panels 100 and 200. The LC panel assembly 300 mayfurther include at least one polarizer (not shown) provided thereon. Forexample, first and second polarized films may be disposed on the panels100 and 200 to adjust a transmission direction of light externallyprovided into the panels 100 and 200 in accordance with an aligneddirection of the liquid crystal layer 3. The first and second polarizedfilms may have first and second polarized axes thereof substantiallyperpendicular to each other.

The display signal lines include a plurality of display scanning linesG_(i) transmitting display scanning signals Vg from the display scanningdriver 400 and a plurality of display data lines D_(j) transmittingdisplay data signals Vd from the display data driver 500.

The plurality of sensor signal lines include a plurality of sensorscanning lines S_(α) transmitting sensor scanning signals Vs from thesensor scanning driver 700, a plurality of sensor data lines P_(β)transmitting sensor data signals Vp to the sensing signal processor 800,a plurality of control voltage lines Psg transmitting a sensor controlvoltage Vsg from the compensation unit 950, and a plurality of inputvoltage lines Psd transmitting a sensor input voltage.

The signal lines G_(i), D_(j) S_(α), P_(β), Psg, and Psd are disposed onthe TFT array panel 100. The display scanning lines G_(i), the sensorscanning lines S_(α), and the control voltage lines Psg extendsubstantially in a row direction, a first direction, and substantiallyparallel to each other, while the display data lines D_(j), sensor datalines P_(β) and the input voltage lines Psd extend substantially in acolumn direction, a second direction, and substantially parallel to eachother. The first direction may be substantially perpendicular to thesecond direction.

Each pixel PX includes a switching element Q, such as a TFT, connectedto the display signal lines G_(i) and D_(j), and a liquid crystalcapacitor Clc and a storage capacitor Cst connected to the switchingelement Q. In alternative embodiments, the storage capacitor Cst may beomitted.

The switching element Q is disposed on the TFT array panel 100 and ithas three terminals, i.e., a control terminal such as a gate electrodeconnected to a display scanning line G_(i), an input terminal such as asource electrode connected to a display data line D_(j), and an outputterminal such as a drain electrode connected to the LC capacitor Clc andthe storage capacitor Cst.

The liquid crystal capacitor Clc includes a pixel electrode 191 disposedon the TFT array panel 100 and a common electrode 270 disposed on thecommon electrode panel 200 as two terminals. The LC layer 3 disposedbetween the two electrodes 191 and 270 functions as a dielectric of theLC capacitor Clc. The pixel electrode 191 is connected to the switchingelement Q, such as to the output terminal of the switching element Q,and the common electrode 270 is supplied with a common voltage Vcom andcovers an entire surface, or substantially an entire surface, of thecommon electrode panel 200. In alternative embodiments, the commonelectrode 270 may instead be provided on the TFT array panel 100, and atleast one of the electrodes 191 and 270 may have a shape of a bar orstripe.

The storage capacitor Cst is an auxiliary capacitor for the LC capacitorClc. The storage capacitor Cst includes the pixel electrode 191 and aseparate signal line (not shown), which is provided on the TFT arraypanel 100, overlaps the pixel electrode 191 via an insulator, and issupplied with a predetermined voltage such as the common voltage Vcom.Alternatively, the storage capacitor Cst includes the pixel electrode191 and an adjacent gate line G_(i-1) called a previous gate line, whichoverlaps the pixel electrode 191 via an insulator.

For color display, each pixel PX uniquely represents one of a set ofcolors, such as primary colors, (i.e., spatial division) or each pixelPX sequentially represents the colors in turn (i.e., temporal division)such that a spatial or temporal sum of the colors are recognized as adesired color. An example of a set of the colors includes red, green,and blue. FIG. 2 shows an example of the spatial division in which eachpixel PX includes a color filter 230 representing one of the colors inthe set of colors in an area of the common electrode panel 200 facingthe pixel electrode 191. Alternatively, the color filter 230 may beprovided on or under the pixel electrode 191 on the TFT array panel 100.

A set of three pixels PX that represent three primary colors or threecolors in the set of colors, such as red, green, and blue, and aredisposed adjacent to one another are referred to as a dot, which is abasic unit of an image. The numbers of rows and columns of the dotsrepresent the resolution of the LCD. According to another exemplaryembodiment, a dot may include four or more pixels PX, and in this case,some of the pixels PX may represent white color.

Each of the sensing units SU may have one of the structures shown inFIG. 3A and FIG. 3B.

The sensing unit SU1 shown in FIG. 3A includes a sensing element Qp1 anda switching element Qs.

The sensing element Qp1 has three terminals, i.e., a control terminalconnected to a control voltage line Psg, an input terminal connected toan input voltage line Psd, and an output terminal connected to theswitching element Qs. The sensing element Qp1 includes a photoelectricmaterial that generates a photocurrent upon receipt of light. An exampleof the sensing element Qp1 is a TFT having an amorphous silicon (“a-Si”)or polysilicon channel that can generate a photocurrent. The sensorcontrol voltage Vsg applied to the control terminal of the sensingelement Qp1 from the control voltage line Psg is sufficiently low orsufficiently high to maintain the sensing element Qp1 in an off state inthe absence of incident light. The sensor input voltage applied to theinput terminal of the sensing element Qp via the input voltage line Psdis sufficiently high to maintain the photocurrent flowing toward theswitching element Qs.

The photocurrent and an operation range of the sensing element Qp1 aredetermined depending on the sensor control voltage Vsg transmitted bythe control voltage lines Psg. Accordingly, the photocurrent generatedby the sensing element Qp1 may be controlled by adjusting the sensorcontrol voltage Vsg. Otherwise, the photocurrent of the sensing elementQp1 may be controlled by adjusting the sensor input voltage transmittedby the input voltage lines Psd.

The switching element Qs also has three terminals, i.e., a controlterminal connected to a sensor scanning line S_(α), an output terminalconnected to a sensor data line P_(β), and an input terminal connectedto the sensing element Qp1. The switching element Qs outputs a sensoroutput signal to the sensor data line P_(β) in response to the sensorscanning signal Vs from the sensor scanning line S_(α). The sensoroutput signal may be the photocurrent from the sensing element Qp1.

The sensing unit SU2 shown in FIG. 3B includes a sensing element Qp2connected to the sensor signal lines S_(α), P_(β), and Psd, but includesno switching element.

The sensing element Qp2 also has three terminals, i.e., a controlterminal connected to a sensor scanning line S_(α), an input terminalconnected to an input voltage line Psd, and an output terminal connectedto a sensor data line P_(β). The sensing element Qp2 includes aphotoelectric material that generates a photocurrent upon receipt oflight, and outputs a sensor output signal to the sensor data line P_(β)in response to the sensor scanning signal Vs from the sensor scanningline S_(α). The sensing element Qp2 may output the sensor output signalwhen the sensor scanning signal Vs is equal to or higher than apredetermined voltage. The sensor output signal and an operation rangeof the sensing element Qp2 are determined depending on the predeterminedvoltage. Accordingly, the sensor output signal generated by the sensingelement Qp2 may be controlled by adjusting the predetermined voltage.Otherwise, the sensor output signal of the sensing element Qp2 may becontrolled by adjusting the sensor input voltage from the input voltageline Psd. When the sensing unit SU2 is employed, the control voltageline Psg shown in FIG. 3A may be omitted.

Here, the switching elements Q and Qs, and the sensing elements Qp1 andQp2 may be TFTs including a-Si or polycrystalline silicon.

The sensing unit SU is disposed between two adjacent pixels PX, and theconcentration of the sensing unit SU may be approximately a quarter ofthe concentration of the dots, where a dot includes a set of differentcolored pixels PX and is the basic unit for representing a color anddetermining the resolution of the LCD. When the concentration of thesensing unit SU is a quarter of the concentration of the concentrationof the dots, for example, the number of the sensing units SU in a rowmay be a half of the number of the dots in a row, and the number of thesensing units SU in a column may be a half of the number of the dots ina column. FIG. 1 shows that the pixels PX and the sensing units SU forma matrix altogether. The pixels PX and the sensing units SU formindependent columns, and a column of the sensing units SU appear everythree columns of pixels PX when there are three differently coloredpixels, e.g. a red pixel, a green pixel, and a blue pixel. There aresites having no sensing unit SU, which is denoted by “X,” in each columnof the sensing units SU. Thus, there may be pixel rows and pixel columnswithout the sensing units SU.

The LCD having the above-described concentrations of the sensing unitsSU and the dots may be applied to a precision application such ascharacter recognition. The sensing unit resolution may be changed. Forexample, the concentration of sensing units SU may be more or less thanthe above-described ¼ concentration of the concentration of the dots.

In the meantime, each of the sensing units SU may be disposed in a unitarea enclosed by a pair of two adjacent display scanning lines Gi and apair of two adjacent display data lines Dj along with a pixel PX, or maybe disposed over two unit areas that include two pixels PX.

Two adjacent sensor scanning lines S_(α) may be connected to each othersuch that the sensor output signals of two sensing units SU connected tothe two adjacent sensor scanning lines S_(α), which may be adjacent in acolumn and connected to the same sensor data line P_(β), are superposedin the sensor data line P_(β) to be outputted as a sensor data signalVp. The sensor data signals Vp formed by superposing sensor outputsignals may reduce the variation of the characteristics of the sensingunits SU and may have a doubled signal-to-noise ratio to contain moreprecise touch information. In this case, the actual resolution of thearray of the sensing units SU may be equal to a half of the number ofthe sensing units SU.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, the gray voltage generator 550 generates twosets of gray voltages related to transmittance of the pixels PX. Thegray voltages in a first set have a positive polarity with respect tothe common voltage Vcom, while the gray voltages in a second set have anegative polarity with respect to the common voltage Vcom.

The display scanning driver 400 is connected to the display scanninglines Gi of the LC panel assembly 300, and synthesizes a gate-on voltageand a gate-off voltage, such as a first high voltage and a first lowvoltage respectively, to generate the display scanning signals Vg forapplication to the display scanning lines Gi.

The display data driver 500 is connected to the display data lines Dj ofthe LC panel assembly 300, and applies display data signals Vd, whichare selected from the gray voltages supplied from the gray voltagegenerator 550, to the display data lines Dj. However, if the grayvoltage generator 550 supplies only a limited number of gray voltages(which are referred to as “reference gray voltages”) instead of all grayvoltages, the display data driver 500 divides the reference grayvoltages to generate the display data signals Vd.

The sensor scanning driver 700 is connected to the sensor scanning linesS_(α) of the LC panel assembly 300 and applies the sensor scanningsignals Vs in response to the sensor scanning control signals CONT3,which are composed of a gate-on voltage and a gate-off voltage, to thesensor scanning lines S_(α). Alternatively, each of the sensor scanningsignals Vs may be composed of a high voltage causing the sensing unitsQp2 to output the sensor output signals and a low voltage preventing thesensing units Qp2 from outputting the sensor output signals. The levelsof the high voltage and the low voltage may depend on the operationrange of the sensing units Qp2.

The sensing signal processor 800 is connected to the sensor data linesP_(β) of the LC panel assembly 300. The sensing signal processor 800receives the sensor data signals Vp from the sensor data lines P_(β),processes, for example amplifies and filters the sensor data signals Vp,and analog-to-digital converts the sensor data signals Vp to generatedigital sensor data signals DSN. One sensor data signal Vp flowing inone sensor data line P_(β) at a time includes one sensor output signaloutputted from one sensing element Qp1 or Qp2 or two or more sensoroutput signals outputted from two or more sensing elements Qp1 or Qp2.

The touch determination unit 900 receives the digital sensor datasignals DSN, appropriately processes the digital sensor data signals DSNto determine whether and where a touch occurs, and sends information INFon the occurrence and the position of a touch to an external device.

The compensation unit or compensator 950 receives the digital sensorsignals DSN from the sensing signal processor 800, and adjusts thesensor control voltage Vsg for the sensing units SU1 and the highvoltage of the sensor scanning signals Vs for the sensing units SU2until the digital sensor signals DSN are bounded in a predeterminedrange, as will be further described below. Alternatively, thecompensation unit 950 may adjust the sensor input voltage for thesensing units SU. Otherwise, the compensation unit 950 may perform suchan operation based on the analog sensor data signals before beingconverted into the digital sensor signals DSN.

The signal controller 600 controls the display scanning driver 400, thedisplay data driver 500, the sensor scanning driver 700, the sensingsignal processor 800, etc.

Each of the processing units 400, 500, 550, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 950may include at least one integrated circuit (“IC”) chip directly mountedon the LC panel assembly 300. However, the IC chip may be mounted on aflexible printed circuit (“FPC”) film in a tape carrier package (“TCP”)type, which is attached to the LC panel assembly 300, or mounted on aseparate printed circuit board (“PCB” not shown). Alternately, at leastone of the processing units 400, 500, 550, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 950may be integrated into the LC panel assembly 300 along with the signallines Gi, Dj, S_(α), and P_(β), TFTs Q, Qs, Qp1, and Qp2, etc.Alternatively, all the processing units 400, 500, 550, 600, 700, 800,900, and 950 may be integrated into a single IC chip, but at least oneof the processing units 400, 500, 550, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 950 or atleast one circuit element included in the processing units 400, 500,550, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 950 may be disposed out of the single ICchip.

Now, the display operation and the sensing operation of theabove-described LCD will be further described.

The signal controller 600 is supplied with input image signals R, G, andB and input control signals for controlling the display thereof from anexternal graphics controller (not shown). The input image signals R, G,and B include luminance information of each pixel PX, and they have apredetermined number of grays, for example 1024 (=2¹⁰), 256 (=2⁸), or 64(=2⁶) grays. The input control signals include, for example, a verticalsynchronization signal Vsync, a horizontal synchronization signal Hsync,a main clock signal MCLK, a data enable signal DE, etc.

On the basis of input image signal R, G, and B and the input controlsignals, the signal controller 600 processes the image signals R, G, andB to be suitable for the operation of the LC display panel 300 and thedisplay data driver 500, and generates display scanning control signalsCONT1, display data control signals CONT2, sensor scanning controlsignals CONT3, and sensor data control signals CONT4. The signalcontroller 600 then sends the display scanning control signals CONT1 tothe display scanning driver 400, the display data control signals CONT2and the processed image signals DAT to the display data driver 500, thesensor scanning control signals CONT3 to the sensing scanning driver700, and the sensor data control signals CONT4 to the sensing signalprocessor 800.

The display scanning control signals CONT1 include a display scanningstart signal STV for instructing a display scanning start operation, andat least one clock signal for controlling the output time of the gate-onvoltage Von. The display scanning control signals CONT1 may furtherinclude an output enable signal OE for defining the duration of thegate-on voltage Von.

The display data control signals CONT2 include a horizontalsynchronization start signal STH for informing a start of transmissionof the image signals DAT for a row of pixels PX, a load signal LOAD forinstructing application of the display data signals Vd to the displaydata lines D₁-D_(m), and a data clock signal HCLK. The display datacontrol signals CONT2 may further include an inversion signal RVS forreversing the polarity of the voltages of the display data signals Vdrelative to the common voltage Vcom (simply referred to as “the polarityof the display data signals” hereinafter).

Responsive to the display data control signals CONT2 from the signalcontroller 600, the display data driver 500 receives a packet of thedigital image signals DAT for the row of pixels PX, converts the digitalimage signals DAT into analog display data signals Vd selected from thegray voltages supplied from the gray voltage generator 550, and appliesthe analog display data signals Vd to the display data lines Dj.

The display scanning driver 400 applies the gate-on voltage Von to adisplay scanning line Gi in response to the display scanning controlsignals CONT1 from the signal controller 600, thereby turning on theswitching elements Q connected thereto. The display data signals Vdapplied to the display data lines Dj are then supplied to the pixels PXthrough the activated switching elements Q. A gate-off voltage Voff maybe applied to the display scanning line Gi via the display scanningdriver 400 to turn off the switching elements Q connected thereto.

The difference between the voltage of a display data signal Vd and thecommon voltage Vcom applied to a pixel PX is represented as a voltageacross the LC capacitor Clc of the pixel PX, which is referred to as apixel voltage. The LC molecules in the LC capacitor Clc haveorientations depending on the magnitude of the pixel voltage, and themolecular orientations determine the polarization of light passingthrough the LC layer 3. The polarizer(s) converts light polarizationinto light transmittance to display images.

By repeating this procedure by a unit of a horizontal period (alsoreferred to as “1H” and that is equal to one period of the rowsynchronization signal Hsync and the data enable signal DE), all displayscanning lines Gi are sequentially supplied with the gate-on voltageVon, thereby applying the display data signals Vd to all pixels PX viathe display data lines Dj to display an image for a frame.

When the next frame starts after one frame finishes, the inversioncontrol signal RVS applied to the data driver 500 is controlled suchthat the polarity of the display data signals Vd is reversed (which isreferred to as “frame inversion”).

The inversion control signal RVS may also be controlled such that thepolarity of the display data signals Vd flowing in a data line areperiodically reversed during one frame (for example, row inversion anddot inversion), or the polarity of the display data signals Vd in onepacket are reversed (for example, column inversion and dot inversion).

In the meantime, the sensor scanning driver 700 supplies the gate-onvoltage to a sensor scanning line S_(α) in response to the sensorscanning control signals CONT3 from the signal controller 600 to turn onthe switching elements Qs connected thereto. With reference to thesensing units SU1 shown in FIG. 3A, the sensor output signals Vp fromthe sensing element Qp1 are loaded on the sensor data lines P_(β)through the activated switching elements Qs to become sensor datavoltages Vp. Alternatively, with reference to the sensing units SU2shown in FIG. 3B, the sensor scanning driver 700 may supply theabove-described high voltage to a sensor scanning line S_(α), andaccordingly the sensing elements Qp2 connected to the sensor scanningline S_(α) may output their sensor output signals to the sensor datalines P_(β). The sensor output signals loaded on the sensor data linesP_(β) become sensor data signals Vp.

The sensing signal processor 800 reads the sensor data signals Vpflowing in the sensor data lines P_(β) in response to the sensor datacontrol signals CONT4. The sensing signal processor 800 processes, forexample amplifies and filters the read analog sensor data signals Vp,and converts the processed analog sensor data signals Vp into digitalsensor data signals DSN. The reading of the sensor data signals Vp bythe sensing signal processor 800 is not necessarily performed everyframe, and if necessary, it may be performed for a plurality of frames.

By repeating this procedure by a unit of one or more horizontal periodsdepending on the column resolution of the array of the sensing units SU,all sensor scanning lines S_(α) are sequentially supplied with thegate-on voltage/high voltage, thereby processing the sensor outputsignals from all the sensing units SU to generate the digital sensorsignals DSN to output to the touch determination unit 900.

The touch determination unit 900 receives and processes the digitalsensor data signals DSN from the sensing signal processor 800 for oneframe to determine where a touch occurs, and then outputs informationINF on the position of a touch to an external device (not shown). Theexternal device transmits image signals R, G, and B to the LCD accordingto the information INF. Alternatively, the external device may receivethe digital sensor signals DSN to determine whether and where a touchoccurs. In this case, the touch determination unit 900 may be omitted.

The sensing operation may be performed independent of the displayoperation. That is, the sensing operation need not be performed everyframe, but it may be performed every two or more frames.

Now, an exemplary LCD according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 4, the LCD includes a liquid crystal panel assembly301, a sensing signal processor 801 and a compensation unit 951connected to the LC panel assembly 301, a touch determination unit 901connected to the sensing signal processor 801, and a signal controller601 for controlling the above elements. The LCD further includes adisplay scanning driver, a display data driver, and a gray voltagegenerator although the above elements are not shown. The above elementsmay be substantially the same as those described in the previousembodiment, so detailed description thereof is omitted.

Referring to FIG. 4, the LC panel assembly 301 includes a plurality ofsensor signal lines SY₁-SY_(N) and SX₁-SX_(M), a plurality of sensingunits SC, a plurality of reset transistors Qr, a plurality of outputtransistors Qa, and a plurality of output data lines OY₁-OY_(N) andOX₁-OX_(M). The LC panel assembly 301 further includes a plurality ofdisplay signal lines and a plurality of pixels connected thereto,although the above elements are not shown. The above elements accordingto the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4 may be substantially the same asthose described in the previous embodiment, so detailed descriptionthereof is omitted. Referring to FIG. 5, the LC panel assembly 301includes a TFT array panel 101, a common electrode panel 201, a liquidcrystal layer 3, and a plurality of spacers (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 4, the sensor signal lines include a plurality of rowsensor data lines SY₁-SY_(N) and a plurality of column sensor data linesSX₁-SX_(M) for transmitting sensor data signals. Referring to FIG. 5,the sensor signal lines further include a plurality of reference voltagelines RL transmitting a reference voltage Vref. Alternatively, thereference voltage lines RL may be omitted, and in this case thereference voltage Vref may be transmitted through the display signallines.

The sensor signal lines SY₁-SY_(N), SX₁-SX_(M), and RL are disposed onthe TFT array panel 100. The row sensor signal lines SY₁-SY_(N) extendsubstantially in a row direction, a first direction, and substantiallyparallel to each other, while the column sensor data lines SX₁-SX_(M)extend substantially in a column direction, a second direction, andsubstantially parallel to each other. The second direction may besubstantially perpendicular to the first direction. The sensing units SCconnected to the sensor signal lines SY₁-SY_(N) and SX₁-SX_(M) arearranged substantially in a matrix as shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG.5, each of the sensing units SC includes a variable capacitor Cv and areference capacitor Cp. The variable capacitor Cv is connected to a rowsensor data line or a column sensor data line (referred as a sensor dataline SL hereinafter), and the reference capacitor Cp is connected to thesensor data line SL and a reference voltage line RL.

The reference capacitor Cp includes the reference voltage line RL andthe sensor data line SL that overlaps the reference voltage line RL viaan insulator.

The variable capacitor Cv includes the sensor data line SL and thecommon electrode 271 disposed on the common electrode panel 201 as twoterminals, and the LC layer 3 disposed between the two terminals SL and271 functions as a dielectric of the variable capacitor Cv. Thecapacitance of the variable capacitor Cv is varied depending on anexternal impulse exerted on the liquid crystal panel assembly 301 suchas user's touch, etc. One example of the external impulse may be apressure. When a pressure is exerted on one of the TFT array panel 101and the common electrode panel 201 to change the distance between theterminals of the variable capacitor Cv, the capacitance of the variablecapacitor Cv is changed. The change of the capacitance of the variablecapacitor Cv in turn changes the voltage Vn of a junction between thereference capacitor Cp and the variable capacitor Cv. The junctionvoltage Vn is transmitted as a sensor data signal Vp through the sensordata line SL, and it is determined whether a touch exists based on thesensor data signals Vp. Since the reference capacitor Cp has a constantcapacitance and the reference voltage Vref applied to the referencecapacitor Cp is constant, the junction voltage Vn varies in a range.Accordingly, the sensor data signals Vp may have a voltage level in alimited range, and thus whether and where a touch occurs may be easilydetermined.

Each of the sensing units SC may be disposed between two adjacentpixels. Every pair of a row sensor data line SY_(k) (k=1, 2, . . . , N)and a column sensor data line SX_(l) (l=1, 2, . . . , M) defines a pairof sensing units SC that are connected thereto and disposed near theintersection of the pair of the sensor data lines SY_(k) and SX_(l). Theconcentration of such pairs of sensing units SC may be approximately aquarter of the concentration of dots of the pixels. The concentration ofthe sensing units SC and the concentration of the pixels may be the sameas those described in the previous embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, each pair of a reset transistor Qr and an outputtransistor Qa are connected to opposite ends of each of the sensor datalines SY₁-SY_(N) and SX₁-SX_(M).

Referring to FIG. 6A, the LC panel assembly 301 includes a plurality ofsensor data lines SL, a plurality of sensing units SC connected to eachsensor data line SL reset transistors Qr, and output transistors Qa, andoutput data lines OL connected to the output transistors Qa. Eachsensing unit SC includes a variable capacitor Cv and a referencecapacitor Cp. The variable capacitors Cv are connected to the commonvoltage Vcom from the common electrode 271, and the reference capacitorsCp are connected to a reference voltage Vref from the reference voltageline RL. The reset transistor Qr for each sensor data line SL has threeterminals, i.e., a control terminal connected to a reset signal Vsw, aninput terminal connected to a sensor control voltage Vst, and an outputterminal connected to a sensor data line SL. The reset transistor Qr isdisposed near on an edge of the LC panel assembly 301, where the pixelsare not disposed, such as in a non-display area, and supplies the sensorcontrol voltage Vst to the sensor data line SL in response to the resetsignal Vsw.

The output transistors Qa also have three terminals, i.e., a controlterminal connected to a sensor data line SL opposite a reset transistorQr, an input terminal connected to an input voltage Vsd, and an outputterminal connected to an output data line OL (representing OY₁-OY_(N)and OX₁-OX_(M)). The output transistor Qa is also disposed near an edgeof the LC panel assembly 301, and generates an indication signal basedon the sensor data signal flowing in the sensor data line SL. Oneexample of the indication signal is an output current. Alternatively,the output transistor Qa may generate a voltage as the indicationsignal. As shown in FIG. 4, the reset transistors Qr may be disposed onfirst and third sides of the LC panel assembly 301, and the outputtransistors Qa may be disposed on second and fourth sides of the LCpanel assembly 301, where the second and fourth sides are opposite thefirst and third sides, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 4 again, the output data lines include a plurality ofrow output data lines OY₁-OY_(N) and a plurality of column output datalines and OX₁-OX_(M). The row output data lines OY₁-OY_(N) are connectedto the row sensor data lines SY₁-SY_(N) through the output transistorsQa, and the column output data lines OX₁-OX_(N) are connected to thecolumn sensor data lines SX₁-SX_(M) through the output transistors Qa.The output data lines OY₁-OY_(N) and OX₁-OX_(M) are connected to thesensing signal processor 801, and transmit the indication signals fromthe output transistors Qa to the sensing signal processor 801. Theoutput data lines OY₁-OY_(N) and OX₁-OX_(M) may extend substantially inthe column direction and substantially parallel to each other.

The sensing signal processor 801 is connected to the output data linesOY₁-OY_(N) and OX₁-OX_(M) of the LC panel assembly 301, and receives theindication signals transmitted through the output data lines OY₁-OY_(N)and OX₁-OX_(M). The sensing signal processor 801 processes, for exampleamplifies the indication signals to generate analog sensor signals Vo,and then analog-digital converts the analog sensor signals Vo togenerate digital sensor signals DSN. Referring to FIG. 6A and FIG. 6Bthe sensing signal processor 801 includes a plurality of amplifiers AP.Each of the amplifiers AP is a current integrator for integrating theoutput current of an output transistor Qa for a predetermined time togenerate an analog sensor signal Vo.

The touch determination unit 901 receives the digital sensor datasignals DSN from the sensing signal processor 801, appropriatelyprocesses the received digital sensor data signals DSN to determinewhether and where a touch occurs on the LC panel assembly 301, and sendsinformation INF on a touch to an external device.

In the LCD according to the present embodiment, the longitudinalposition of a touch is determined based on the sensor data signalsflowing in the row sensor data lines SY₁-SY_(N), and the transverseposition of the touch is determined based on the sensor data signalsflowing in the column sensor data lines SX₁-SX_(M).

The compensation unit 951 receives the digital sensor signals DSN fromthe sensing signal processor 801, and adjusts the sensor control voltageVst applied to the sensor data lines SL through the input terminals ofthe reset transistors Qr until the digital sensor signals DSN arebounded in a predetermined range. Alternatively, the compensation unit951 may adjust the input voltage Vsd applied to the input terminals ofthe output transistors Qa to control the digital sensor signals DSN.While it has been described that the compensation unit 951 receives thedigital sensor signals DSN from the sensing signal processor 801, thecompensation unit 951 may alternatively receive the analog sensorsignals before being converted into the digital sensor signals DSN fromthe sensing signal processor 801, and may then perform theabove-described operation based on the analog sensor signals.

The signal controller 601 controls operations of the sensing signalprocessor 801, the compensation unit 951, etc.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the plurality of sensing units SC including aplurality of variable capacitors Cv and a plurality of referencecapacitors Cp are connected to one sensor data line SL. The variablecapacitors Cv c an be represented by one variable capacitor Cv′ shown inFIG. 6B, which includes the sensor data line SL as one terminal.Similarly, the reference capacitors Cp can be represented by onereference capacitor Cp′ as shown in FIG. 6B.

Referring to FIG. 7, the sensing operation of the LCD may be performedin porch periods between adjacent frames, and in particular, the sensingoperation may preferably be performed in front porch periods preceding alow level voltage period of a vertical synchronization signal Vsync.

The common voltage Vcom swings between a high level and a low levelevery 1H.

The reset signal Vsw applied to the control terminal of each resettransistor Qr has a gate-on voltage for turning on the reset transistorQr and a gate-off voltage for turning off the reset transistor Qr. Thereset signal Vsw becomes the gate-on voltage when the common voltageVcom is in the high level. When the gate-on voltage is applied to thereset transistor Qr via the control terminal thereof, the resettransistor Qr is turned on and the sensor control voltage Vst is appliedto the sensor data line SL to be initialized.

When the reset signal Vsw becomes the gate-off voltage after 1H, thecommon voltage Vcom is changed to a low level. Then, the sensor dataline SL becomes floating and the sensor data signal is changed based onthe change of the capacitance of the variable capacitor Cv′ and thechange of the common voltage Vcom. The output transistor Qa outputs theindication signal in response to the sensor data signal, and theamplifier AP within the sensing signal processor 801 integrates theindication signal to generate the analog sensor signal Vo. After apredetermined time lapses, the sensing signal processor 801 reads theanalog sensor signal Vo and digitizes the analog sensor signal Vo. Here,the reading of the analog sensor signal Vo may preferably be performedwithin 1H after the reset signal Vsw becomes the gate-off voltage. Inother words, the analog sensor signal Vo may preferably be read beforethe common voltage Vcom becomes the high level again.

Since the sensor data signal may be varied based on the sensor controlvoltage Vst, the sensor data signal may have a voltage level of alimited range such that whether and where a touch occurs may be easilydetermined.

While it has been described that the reset signal Vsw becomes thegate-on voltage when the common voltage Vcom in the high level, in analternative embodiment the reset signal Vsw may become the gate-onvoltage when the common voltage Vcom is in the low level. In this case,the sensing signal processor 801 reads the analog sensor signal Vo afterthe common voltage Vcom becomes the high level and before the commonvoltage Vcom becomes the low level again. The reset signal Vsw may besynchronized with the display scanning signal applied to the lastdisplay scanning line within the LC panel assembly 301.

Many features of the LCD shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3B may also beapplicable to the LCD shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 7.

Now, an exemplary feedback control system for an exemplary LCD accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an exemplary feedback control system forthe exemplary LCDs shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a graph illustratingexperiment results for the exemplary feedback control shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 8, the LCD includes a regulating unit 40, a system 50,and a detecting unit 60 from the standpoint of feedback control. Theregulating unit 40 includes the compensation unit 950 or 951. The system50 includes the amplifiers AP of the sensing signal processor 800 or 801and the LC panel assembly 300 or 301 including the sensing units SU orSC. The detecting unit 60 includes the sensing signal processor 800 or801 except for the amplifiers AP.

The detecting unit 60 receives the sensing signals Vo from the system50. The detecting unit 60 may then digitize the received sensing signalsVo to generate a feedback signal ov, and output the feedback signal ovto the regulating unit 40. The regulating unit 40 receives an operatingsignal ev, which is a difference between a target value dv and thefeedback signal ov, and performs proportional control (“P control”),proportional-integral control (“PI control”), orproportional-integral-derivative control (“PID control”) to generate acontrol signal Vc based on the operating signal ev. The system 50receives the control signal Vc and outputs the sensing signals Vo. Theabove-described feedback control operation is repeated until theoperating signal ev becomes “0”.

The target value dv corresponds to the value of the sensing signal Vothat the system 50 would output. The control signal Vc makes the system50 output the sensing signal Vo, and the control signal Vc correspondsto the sensor control voltage Vsg or Vst of the LCD. Alternatively thecontrol signal Vc may correspond to the sensor input voltage Vsd appliedto an input terminal of an output transistor Qa as described above. Thefeedback signal ov from the detecting unit 60 may correspond to thedigital sensor signals DSN, but the feedback signal ov may alternativelycorrespond to the analog sensor signals Vo.

The regulating unit 40 calculates a control variable u in accordancewith EQUATION 1 and generates the control signal Vc by calculating inaccordance with EQUATION 2. $\begin{matrix}{{u(t)} = {{{Kp} \times {{ev}(t)}} + {{Ki} \times {\int_{0}^{t}{{{ev}(\tau)}\quad{\mathbb{d}\tau}}}} + {{Kd} \times \frac{\mathbb{d}{{ev}(\tau)}}{\mathbb{d}(\tau)}}}} & ( {{EQUATION}\quad 1} ) \\{{Vc} = {{Vc}^{\prime} + {u(t)}}} & ( {{EQUATION}\quad 2} )\end{matrix}$

Here, Kp denotes a proportional gain, Ki denotes an integral gain, Kddenotes a derivative gain, and Vc′ denotes a previous value of thecontrol signal Vc.

The proportional gain Kp, the integral gain Ki, and the derivative gainKd may be appropriately determined by monitoring the output signal Vo ofthe system 50 for the control signal Vc.

When the derivative gain Kd is set to “0,” the operation of the EQUATION1 may be a PI controller. When the proportional gain Kp and thederivative gain Kd are both set to “0,” the operation of the EQUATION 1may be a P controller.

When the operating signal ev is within a predetermined range, theregulating unit 40 does not perform the operation of the EQUATION 1 andthe EQUATION 2. That is to say, the regulating unit 40 determines thatthe sensing signal Vo is within a reliable range, and the regulatingunit 40 does not perform the control operation. However, when theoperating signal ev is beyond the predetermined range, the regulatingunit 40 starts the control operation and continues the control operationuntil the operating signal ev becomes “0,” i.e., until the feedbacksignal ov, which corresponds to the output signal Vo of the system 50,becomes equal to the target value dv.

Although EQUATION 1 and EQUATION 2 are presented in a continuous timedomain, they can have equivalents in a discrete time domain.

One experimental result showing that the sensing signal Vo follows apredetermined value, i.e., an operating point for an LCD, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 9.Here, the target value dv, i.e., the operating point of the sensingsignal Vo, was about 0.7V, and a permissible error was about ±0.02V.That is, the predetermined range of the sensing signal Vo was set toabout 0.5V to about 0.9V (0.7V±10.2V). The proportional gain Kp wasabout 2.2, the integral gain Ki was about 0.5, and the derivative gainKd was about 0.

Referring to FIG. 9, the initial value of the sensing signal Vo wasabout 0.152V until the sixth frame, and the PI control was performedfrom the sixth frame. The sensing signal Vo became about 0.718V to reachthe target value dv in the eleventh frame, after five frames from thesixth frame. In the meantime, the control signal Vc was changed by theregulating unit 40 from about 3.63V to about 4.06V for the five frames.

The sensing signal Vo under the occurrence of a touch was bounded byabout ±10.05V from the value of the sensing signal Vo in the absence ofa touch. Accordingly, once the sensing signal Vo reaches the operatingpoint, the sensing signal Vo is bounded in a predetermined range, thecontrol operation to follow the operating point is not performed againeven though a touch occurs thereafter. As a result, the occurrence of atouch is determined based on the sensing signal Vo.

Even if there is degradation of the sensing units SU or SC, change ofthe sensing conditions, or the deviation of the LC panel assembly 300 or301, the sensing signal Vo may be in a predetermined range by thefeedback control, and therefore the touch sensing operation may beperformed correctly.

The regulating unit 40 can be implemented as a digital circuit as wellas an analog circuit. The regulating unit 40 may be included in thesensing signal processors 800 and 801 or the touch determination units900 and 901, and particularly the regulating unit 40 may be implementedas programs to be executed by a processor (not shown) of the touchdetermination units 900 and 901. The regulating unit 40 may beimplemented as a hardwired application specific integrated circuit(“ASIC”) chip.

The regulating unit 40 may use control methods other than the PIDcontrol.

In the above-described embodiments, the photo-sensing element or thevariable capacitor and the reference capacitor are described as thesensing unit, however other sensing units may be employed.

While an LCD has been described as the display device, theabove-described embodiments can be also applied to other flat paneldisplay devices such as a plasma display device, an organic lightemitting diode (“OLED”) display, a field emission display, etc.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed hereinabove, it should be clearly understood that manyvariations and/or modifications of the basic inventive concepts hereintaught which may appear to those skilled in the present art will stillfall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined inthe appended claims.

1. A display device comprising: a display panel unit; a sensing unitformed on the display panel unit, receiving a sensor control signal, andgenerating a sensor data signal based on a touch exerted on the displaypanel unit; an output unit generating a sensing signal based on thesensor data signal from the sensing unit; and a compensation unitadjusting the sensor control signal such that the sensing signal isbounded in a predetermined range.
 2. The display device of claim 1,further comprising a detecting unit generating a feedback signal basedon the sensing signal and supplying the feedback signal to thecompensation unit.
 3. The display device of claim 2, wherein thecompensation unit adjusts the sensor control signal based on anoperating signal, and the operating signal is a difference between atarget value and the feedback signal.
 4. The display device of claim 3,wherein the compensation unit adjusts the sensor control signal suchthat the sensing signal is substantially equal to the target value. 5.The display device of claim 3, wherein the sensor control signal Vc isdetermined by:${{Vc} = {{Vc}^{\prime} + {{Kp} \times {{ev}(t)}} + {{Ki} \times {\int_{0}^{t}{{{ev}(\tau)}\quad{\mathbb{d}\tau}}}} + {{Kd} \times \frac{\mathbb{d}{{ev}(\tau)}}{\mathbb{d}(\tau)}}}},$where Vc′ denotes a previous value of the control signal, Kp denotes aproportional gain, Ki denotes an integral gain, Kd denotes a derivativegain, and ev denotes the operating signal.
 6. The display device ofclaim 3, wherein the compensation unit does not adjust the sensorcontrol signal when the target value is equal to the feedback signal. 7.The display device of claim 1, wherein the compensation unit controlsthe sensing signal when the sensing signal is outside of thepredetermined range.
 8. The display device of claim 1, wherein thecompensation unit performs one of proportional control,proportional-integral control, and proportional-integral-derivativecontrol.
 9. The display device of claim 1, wherein the compensation unitis implemented as an analog circuit or a digital circuit.
 10. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit comprises a variablecapacitor Cv and a reference capacitor Cp connected to the variablecapacitor Cv, and the variable capacitor Cv has a capacitance dependingon a pressure following a touch.
 11. The display device of claim 10,further comprising a sensor data line transmitting the sensor datasignal and connected between the variable capacitor Cv and the referencecapacitor Cp.
 12. The display device of claim 11, further comprising areset transistor connected to the sensor data line and supplying thesensor control signal to the sensor data line.
 13. The display device ofclaim 11, wherein the output unit comprises an output transistorconnected to the sensor data line and generating an output signal basedon the sensor data signal.
 14. The display device of claim 13, whereinthe output unit further comprises an amplifier generating the sensingsignal based on the output signal of the output transistor.
 15. Thedisplay device of claim 10, wherein the display panel unit comprises afirst panel, a second panel facing the first panel, and an LC layerinterposed between the first panel and the second panel.
 16. The displaydevice of claim 15, wherein the variable capacitor comprises a firstelectrode disposed on the first panel and a second capacitive electrodeformed on the second panel.
 17. The display device of claim 1, whereinthe sensing unit comprises a photo-sensing element sensing lightfollowing a touch to generate a photocurrent.
 18. The display device ofclaim 17, wherein the photo-sensing element has an input terminalconnected to an input line, a control terminal connected to the sensorcontrol signal, and an output terminal, and the photo-sensing unitoutputs the photocurrent through the output terminal.
 19. The displaydevice of claim 17, further comprising: a sensor data line transmittingthe sensor data signal; and a switching element sending the photocurrentfrom the photo-sensing element to the sensor data line as the sensordata signal.
 20. A method of improving a touch sensing operation in atouch sensitive display device, the method comprising: applying a sensorcontrol signal to a sensor data line; generating a sensor data signalfrom a sensing unit connected to the sensor data line based on a touchexerted on the display device; generating a sensing signal based on thesensor data signal; and, bounding the sensing signal within a presetrange by adjusting the sensor control signal applied to the sensor dataline.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein adjusting the sensor controlsignal includes calculating the sensor control signal based on aprevious value of the sensor control signal and an operating signal, theoperating signal being a difference between a feedback signal based onthe sensing signal and a target value of the sensing signal.